Creates the medical marijuana task force to examine
issues regarding adequate supplies of medical marijuana for qualified patients,
distinguishing between mature and immature plants under current law, the
feasibility of constructing secure growing facilities for medical marijuana
patients to use to produce their medicine, and study inter-island travel issues
related to medical marijuana. (SD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2675

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MEDICAL
MARIJUANA.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. (a) There is established within the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes a medical marijuana task force. The
college of tropical agriculture and human resources shall be responsible for
administering the work of the medical marijuana task force, providing a
facilitator, and submitting a report to the legislature. The goals of the task
force shall be to:

(1) Examine current laws regarding the adequate
supply of marijuana for medical use to ensure sufficient amounts of medication
for a qualified patient's needs, including any implications of removing the
distinction between mature and immature plants;

(2) Study the feasibility of developing safe growing
facilities on each of the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, and
Oahu for qualified patients with written certification to grow medical
marijuana for their medical use;

(3) Seek possible solutions to challenges faced by
qualified patients with written certification when faced with inter-island
travel, resulting from statutory prohibitions, including federal law that
prohibits travel with medical marijuana;

(4) Examine all issues and obstacles that qualifying
patients have encountered in the application of the medical marijuana program;
and

(5) Research advances made by other states regarding
medical marijuana laws and programs.

(b) The members of the medical marijuana task force shall
consist of eleven members as follows:

(1) The director of public safety or the director's
designee;

(2) The director of health or the director's
designee;

(3) The director of transportation or the director's
designee;

(4) The attorney general or the attorney general's
designee;

(5) Three members of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii
as designated by the chairperson of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii;

(6) Three patient advocates to be appointed as
follows:

(A) One appointed by the governor;

(B) One appointed by the president of the
senate; and

(C) One appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives; and

(7) A prescribing physician as designated by the
board of medical examiners established under chapter 453, Hawaii Revised
Statutes.

(c) The medical marijuana task force shall
submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed
legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2009
regular session.